Our Favorite Iconic Chair Designs

No matter how boring or basic your space is, there’s always room to add an iconic chair. Yes, they can be on the pricey side, but an iconic modern lounge chair or dining chair is an investment and oftentimes looks like modern sculptures in your house that you can be proud of. They’ll stand the test of time so you can pass them down to your children and let you keep the modern classics in the family.

It doesn’t get much more classic than an Eames® Molded Plastic Side Chair. Whether you sit them in a corner or use them at your dining table, the chairs work everywhere. They were designed by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller and besides getting to pick out the seat color, you can can choose from a variety of metal and wooden base options to really customize it.

Vitra’s Verner Panton-designed Classic Panton Chair has been around since its 1959/60 prototype before going into production in 1967. Well known for its sultry curves, the chairs is made in one solid piece of rigid expanded plastic, making it sturdy for years of use.

Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for Knoll, the Barcelona Chair is just as comfortable as it is stylish. Created in 1929, the chair’s architectural design sits on a chrome base with a seat upholstered in individual leather square that are welted together.

This cozy, mid-century inspired lounge chair was designed by Hans Wegner in 1951 and feels like a giant hug when you sit down. The Papa Bear Chair, made by Modernica, has a tall, tufted seat back and armrests that could easily be Papa Bear’s wood tipped arms reaching around you.

And last, but not least, the design world would not be the same without the Eames® Lounge Chair with Ottoman from Herman Miller. The Charles and Ray Eames 1956 classic is one of the most highly recognizable pieces of furniture from the 20th century and it’s here to stay.

Jaime Derringer

Jaime Derringer, Founder + Executive Editor of Design Milk is a Jersey girl living the laid back life in SoCal. She dreams of designing textiles, running more than 8 miles + having enough free time to enjoy some of her favorite things—running, reading, and drawing.